Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Association Between Pediatrician Screening Practices And Age At The Time Of Autism Diagnosis Among Latino Children, Irma S. Diaz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability that affects all ethnic groups and is twice as frequent among boys than girls. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with ASD. Despite guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and clinical evidence that suggests that ASD can be diagnosed as early as 24 months of age, most diagnoses occur at age 4 or even later, resulting in fewer opportunities for children to receive early ASD treatment and help them reach the best outcome possible. There is limited information about the appropriate …